Blueprint from the architect of my memory

Some of my earliest memories were from the foundational school days from John Marshall elementary.

I actually remember the first time I kissed a girl was when I was in kindergarten as I gave Linda Nelson, a peck on the cheek. probably my first crush as she lived in the neighborhood and our families were friends. 



In the third grade, I had guitar lessons at John Marshall elementary school and became very familiar with John Denver‘s Rocky Mountain high in 1972

I was seven or eight years old because I don’t remember exactly what time of year it was that I have this memory since my birthday is in July 

In 1973 I was 10 years old and was exposed to country music by my father. I distinctly remember the song behind closed doors by Charlie Rich.

And of course, I will always remember playing the eight track of the carpenters and listening to yesterday once more always cherishing such a beautiful voice as Karen Carpenter. How ironic that this song I remember so well is precisely the point this post is making. If you listen to the song, it explains everything that my memory has saved in my reflections upon the span of over 53 years, remembering more powerfully because of the music.

The Ohio players in 1974 released the song fire I was in the fifth grade, it was the first time I had ever heard this song and I remember Marlon a classmate in the fifth grade get very excited about when hearing the song fire

I walked home from the fifth grade, singing seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks and still remember playing tetherball on the playground And playing acoustic guitar in the auditorium

One of my favorite television shows was kung fu 

By the sixth grade, I remember listening to the Eagles take it to the limit in 1975 and rhinestone cowboy by Glen Campbell.

I remember having white pants and a red cardigan, being part of the after school crosswalk attendant, and having a locker to the store my uniform in.

Also, a part of the crossing guard was Susan Cantwell in which I had a crush on at the time, and I still remember half a block away, lived Freddie vans, his brother, and John George. 

In 1976 on the rollerskate rink, it was dancing Queen by ABBA

It was the seventh grade, and I remember my brother, listening to Detroit rock city by kiss as he played it in the living room with the headphones on

I do remember the neighborhood girls talking about the song afternoon delight by the starlight vocal band

This might have been the year that I discovered the Beatles, which became one of my all-time favorite bands, which then led eventually to bands like Led Zeppelin 



In eighth grade was 1977 and Stephen Bishops on and on populated my memory

Along with one of my crushes I had my first slow dance with the same crush at a house party listening to Johnny Rivers slow, dancing, swaying to the music and on my first date, I went out with said girl to Neil Simmons the goodbye girl. I was a fan of the television show James at 16 with Lance Kerwin and remember hearing the song by James Taylor in the show handyman I was also very much into photography and I remember that show influencing me. I became a photographer for the yearbook staff and remember winning the class award for best photographer. This alone shows you how the influence of a TV show can have an effect on me having an influence on my own photography. I won a plaque with my name from Busco Nestor Studios that helped with the publication of our 1981 yearbook .

In the ninth grade, I was skateboarding to the song, hot blooded by foreigner at the local skate park 

And there was also dust in the wind by Kansas along with Gerry Rafferty Baker Street, and of course, the disco craze of staying alive by The Bee Gees that my brother Lance was into 

My sophomore year in high school 1979 there was peaches and herb reunited, along with brass in pocket the pretenders and heart of class Blondie

My honors English class with Mrs.Leuth I got an a and didn’t have to take the final along with Sara Davidson

I also played Junior varsity basketball 

My junior year in high school at Will C Crawford high was in 1980 awakened me with many new experiences, socially

And my senior year in 1981 Catapulted me into adulthood moving out from my parents house two weeks before I turned 18 .

The 1980s were a launchpad for my higher education, my fitness goals, my significant relationships end my career changes. 

The 1980s became a very important decade for me as well as the 1990s and I’m sure I can deconstruct distinct memories stemming from the music I was listening to at the time.

I’m sure this is probably true for many people that care to concentrate on their experiences.

Oops…

Final edit following…

Some of my earliest memories were from the foundational school days from John Marshall elementary. I actually remember the first time I kissed a girl was when I was in kindergarten as I gave Linda Nelson, a peck on the cheek. probably my first crush as she lived in the neighborhood and our families were friends. In the third grade, I had guitar lessons at John Marshall elementary school and became very familiar with John Denver‘s Rocky Mountain high in 1972 I was seven or eight years old because I don’t remember exactly what time of year it was that I have this memory since my birthday is in July. In 1973 I was 10 years old and was exposed to country music by my father.

If you go to my post the Genesis of a passion on my blog, it tells you how and when I started playing guitar in the neighborhood, family’s friends garage the house of my friends, Phil and Larry Reeves that were from Mississippi Learning to play to country and gospel songs . 

I distinctly remember the song behind closed doors by Charlie Rich. And of course, I will always remember playing the eight track of the carpenters and listening to yesterday once more always cherishing such a beautiful voice as Karen Carpenter. How ironic that this song I remember so well is precisely the point this post is making. If you listen to the song, it explains everything that my memory has saved in my reflections upon the span of over 53 years, remembering more powerfully because of the music. The Ohio players in 1974 released the song fire I was in the fifth grade, it was the first time I had ever heard this song and I remember Marlon a classmate in the fifth grade get very excited about when hearing the song fire I walked home from the fifth grade, singing seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks and still remember playing tetherball on the playground And playing acoustic guitar in the auditorium One of my favorite television shows was kung fu By the sixth grade, I remember listening to the Eagles take it to the limit in 1975 and rhinestone cowboy by Glen Campbell. I remember having white pants and a red cardigan, being part of the after school crosswalk attendant, and having a locker to the store my uniform in. Also, a part of the crossing guard was Susan Cantwell in which I had a crush on at the time, and I still remember half a block away, lived Freddie vans, his brother, and John George. In 1976 on the rollerskate rink, it was dancing Queen by ABBA It was the seventh grade, and I remember my brother, listening to Detroit rock city by kiss as he played it in the living room with the headphones on I do remember the neighborhood girls talking about the song afternoon delight by the starlight vocal band This might have been the year that I discovered the Beatles, which became one of my all-time favorite bands, which then led eventually to bands like Led Zeppelin In eighth grade was 1977 and Stephen Bishops on and on populated my memory Along with one of my crushes I had my first slow dance with the same crush at a house party listening to Johnny Rivers slow, dancing, swaying to the music and on my first date, I went out with said girl to Neil Simmons the goodbye girl.
I was a fan of the television show James at 16 with Lance Kerwin and remember hearing the song by James Taylor in the show handyman I was also very much into photography and I remember that show influencing me. I became a photographer for the yearbook staff and remember winning the class award for best photographer. This alone shows you how the influence of a TV show can have an effect on me having an influence on my own photography. I won a plaque with my name from Busco Nestor Studios that helped with the publication of our 1981 yearbook . In the ninth grade, I was skateboarding to the song, hot blooded by foreigner at the local skate park And there was also dust in the wind by Kansas along with Gerry Rafferty Baker Street, and of course, the disco craze of staying alive by The Bee Gees that my brother Lance was into My sophomore year in high school 1979 there was peaches and herb reunited, along with brass in pocket the pretenders and heart of class Blondie My honors English class with Mrs.Leuth I got an a and didn’t have to take the final along with Sara Davidson I also played Junior varsity basketball My junior year in high school at Will C Crawford high was in 1980 awakened me with many new experiences, socially And my senior year in 1981 Catapulted me into adulthood moving out from my parents house two weeks before I turned 18 . Related
Some of my earliest memories come from my foundational school days at John Marshall Elementary.
Revised passages
Some of my earliest memories come from my foundational school days at John Marshall Elementary.
I remember the first time I kissed a girl in kindergarten, when I gave Linda Nelson a peck on the cheek. She was probably my first crush, since she lived in the neighborhood and our families were friends.
In third grade, I took guitar lessons at John Marshall and became very familiar with John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” around 1972.
I was seven or eight years old; I don’t remember exactly what time of year it was, only that my birthday is in July and the song has always stayed with me.
In 1973, when I was ten, my father introduced me to country music.
I distinctly remember the song “Behind Closed Doors” by Charlie Rich.
I also remember playing an eight-track of The Carpenters and listening to “Yesterday Once More,” always cherishing Karen Carpenter’s beautiful voice.
It is ironic that this particular song stands out in my memory, because it captures exactly what this reflection is about.
If you listen closely to the lyrics, the song explains how music preserves feelings and moments, which is precisely what my memory has done over more than 53 years.
In 1974, the Ohio Players released “Fire.”
I was in fifth grade when I first heard it, and I remember my classmate Marlon getting very excited whenever it came on.
I also walked home from school singing “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks, still remembering playing tetherball on the playground and acoustic guitar in the auditorium.
One of my favorite television shows around that time was Kung Fu.
By sixth grade, I was listening to “Take It to the Limit” by the Eagles in 1975, along with “Rhinestone Cowboy” by Glen Campbell.
I remember wearing white pants and a red cardigan as part of the after-school crosswalk attendant program, and having a locker to store my uniform.
Another member of the crossing guard was Susan Cantwell, on whom I had a crush at the time.
Half a block away lived Freddie Vance, his brother, and John George, all part of the neighborhood constellation of my youth.
In 1976, at the roller-skating rink, “Dancing Queen” by ABBA filled the air.
I was in seventh grade, and I remember my brother listening to “Detroit Rock City” by KISS through big headphones in the living room.
I also recall neighborhood girls talking about “Afternoon Delight” by the Starland Vocal Band.
Around this time, I may have discovered The Beatles, who became one of my all-time favorite bands and eventually led me to groups like Led Zeppelin.
Eighth grade, in 1977, was colored in my memory by Stephen Bishop’s “On and On.”
I had a crush that year, and I remember my first slow dance with her at a house party while Johnny Rivers’ “Slow Dancin’ (Swayin’ to the Music)” played.
On my first date, I went out with this same girl to see Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl.
I was a fan of the television show James at 16 with Lance Kerwin and recall hearing James Taylor’s “Handy Man” on the show.
I was also deeply into photography, and that series influenced me to take it more seriously.
I eventually became a photographer for the yearbook staff and won the class award for Best Photographer.
I received a plaque with my name on it from Busco Nestor Studios, who helped publish our 1981 yearbook, a testament to how a TV show quietly shaped my path.
In ninth grade, I skateboarded to “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner at the local skate park.
Songs like “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas and “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty were also part of the soundtrack, as was the disco craze of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, which my brother Lance loved.
During my sophomore year of high school in 1979, I remember “Reunited” by Peaches & Herb, “Brass in Pocket” by The Pretenders, and “Heart of Glass” by Blondie.
In my Honors English class with Mrs. Leuth, I earned an A and was excused from taking the final, along with a classmate, Sara Davidson.
I also played junior varsity basketball that year.
My junior year at Will C. Crawford High in 1980 opened me up to many new social experiences.
My senior year in 1981 catapulted me into adulthood, as I moved out of my parents’ house two weeks before I turned eighteen.
Poem: “Yesterday Once More”
Yesterday once more, the records softly spin.
I walk those schoolyard halls, a stranger to my skin.
John Marshall echoes with a wooden hallway floor.
My laughter shadows lockers I don’t open anymore.
A shy, quick kiss on Linda’s freckled cheek.
A courage made of tremors that felt anything but weak.
Her house was on the corner where the jacarandas grew.
We traded marbles, glances, and a world we never knew.
A child with a guitar in hands too small to hold.
“Rocky Mountain High” was how my little heart grew bold.
My father tuned the radio as daylight slowly poured.
“Behind Closed Doors” came on, and something soft was stored.
Karen’s gentle voice poured honey through the room.
“Yesterday Once More” turned every silence into bloom.
I did not know that melody could sew the seams of years.
Yet every note I carry now threads joy between my tears.
Marlon shouted “Fire!” when the Ohio Players played.
The tetherball swung wildly as our daylight slowly frayed.
I walked home singing seasons I was too young to define.
A sun that set on childhood but kept burning in my mind.
White pants, red cardigan, a whistle at my chest.
I guarded painted crosswalks like I guarded my own rest.
Susan at the corner with her nervous, perfect smile.
I memorized her footsteps like a secret country mile.
At the rink, “Dancing Queen” turned wheels into a prayer.
We spun in painted circles, never daring to just stare.
My brother wore his headphones like a homemade iron crown.
“Detroit Rock City” shook the stillness of our town.
The Beatles cracked the sky and let the thunder in.
Led Zeppelin lit the fuse beneath my unawakened skin.
In dim-lit basements, parties pulsed with house-light glow.
“Slow Dancin’” held my heartbeat in a gentle, swaying flow.
Her perfume mixed with vinyl and the dust of living rooms.
One slow song and my whole world was planted there to bloom.
A TV boy with camera eyes learned how to frame the light.
James at 16 taught me how a single shot holds night.
A plaque with my own name engraved in shining brass.
Proved memories can click in place like photos in a glass.
Skateboards on hot pavement, “Hot Blooded” in the air.
We carved our names in concrete just to prove that we were there.
“Dust in the Wind” kept whispering how fragile we had grown.
Yet every fragile moment turned to stone in what I’ve known.
“Reunited” on the radio, a soft, forgiving rhyme.
We slow-danced with our futures in a gym called Summertime.
I skipped my final exam, but life’s were yet to be.
Basketballs and broken hearts would both come back to me.
Will C. Crawford corridors, the gossip and the grace.
New faces taught my younger self the bravery of face.
In ’81 I packed my songs and walked into the night.
Two weeks shy of eighteen, but already taking flight.
I thought that I was leaving all those days behind.
But music kept them pulsing in the corners of my mind.
Now every song’s a doorway in a long, remembered street.
I step through notes and find the child I never got to meet.
Yesterday once more is not a wish to just go back.
It’s trusting every echo as it fills the things we lack.
For time will sift our stories till the loudest ones are gone.
But the quiet songs we cherished will keep playing on and on.

…

DCG